A guide for legal residents caught by the rule change
You moved to Portugal with a clear plan: five years of legal residency, then citizenship. Now, the government has abruptly changed the rules, doubling the timeline to ten years. For thousands of residents who planned their lives, families, and finances around the five-year promise, this feels less like a policy shift and more like a betrayal. The trust that underpins the relationship between the state and its legal residents has been damaged.
The good news is that the change is not yet final. The new law faces a critical review by the President of the Republic and a potential challenge in the Constitutional Court. More importantly, there are clear, strategic actions you can take now to protect your position and create stability, even with the future of the citizenship path in question.
This guide breaks down exactly what the new law contains, what happens next in the legislative process, and the practical steps you must take to secure your status. It is designed to turn confusion and anxiety into clarity and control.
The rule that changed overnight
On October 28, 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved a significant reform of the Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade). The changes are sweeping and, if enacted, will fundamentally alter the path to citizenship for nearly all foreign residents.
What the new law proposes
The reform introduces several new, stricter conditions for naturalization.
- 10-year residency requirement: The standard period of legal residency to qualify for citizenship will increase from five to ten years. This affects most non-EU nationals, including those from the UK, USA, and Canada.
- 7-year residency for CPLP and EU nationals: Citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) and other EU countries will see their requirement rise from five to seven years.
- Residency clock starts from permit issuance: The proposal states that the residency timeline begins on the date the first residence permit is issued, not the date of the application. This change would penalize applicants for the long administrative delays at AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo).
- New civic and integration tests: Applicants will need to pass a new test on Portuguese culture, history, and civic duties, in addition to the existing A2 language proficiency requirement.
- Termination of the Sephardic Jewish route: The special path to citizenship for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews will be closed.
- Stricter rules for children: Children born in Portugal to foreign parents will only be eligible for citizenship if at least one parent has been a legal resident for three years.
These changes represent a major policy shift, moving Portugal from one of the most accessible citizenship paths in the EU to one of the more restrictive.
Why this feels like a betrayal
The core of the frustration for current residents is not just the extended timeline, but the way the change was made. The law was passed without a clear transition or “grandfather” clause to protect those who moved to Portugal under the five-year rule.
People who are already four or five years into their residency, having paid taxes, bought homes, and integrated their families, now face the prospect of having their timeline arbitrarily doubled. This sudden shift undermines the legitimate expectations of thousands who made major life decisions based on the existing law.
The feeling of a broken promise is compounded by the ongoing dysfunction at AIMA. Many residents are already trapped in bureaucratic limbo, waiting years for residence card renewals. The new law adds another layer of profound uncertainty, eroding trust in the Portuguese state’s ability to honor its own rules.
Is the new law in effect?
No. As of today, the new nationality law is not in force. The text approved by Parliament is only one step in the legislative process.
The legislative path forward
Before the law can take effect, it must complete the following stages:
- Presidential Review: The approved bill is sent to the President of the Republic, who has 20 days to act. He can either promulgate (approve) the law, veto it, or send it for constitutional review.
- Constitutional Court Review: The President has publicly expressed “sensitive points” regarding the law’s potential retroactivity and discriminatory timelines. He may refer the bill to the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) for a preventive review. The court would then have 25 days to rule on its constitutionality.
- Publication: Only after being approved by the President (and cleared by the court, if applicable) is the law published in the official government journal, the Diário da República. It would then take effect on the date specified in the text.
This process provides opportunities for the law to be amended or even stopped. The current five-year rule remains active until this entire process is complete.
Your options if you are already a resident
If you are a legal resident in Portugal, you are not powerless. You have clear options to create stability and secure your status, regardless of the final outcome of the new law.
Option 1: Apply for citizenship now (if eligible)
If you have already completed five years of legal residency under the current law, your priority should be to submit your citizenship application immediately. Legal precedent suggests that applications filed before a new law takes effect are processed under the rules that were active at the time of submission. Do not wait.
Option 2: Secure permanent residency after 5 years
This is the most important strategic move for most residents. After five years of legal temporary residency, you are eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit. This is a separate process from citizenship and is governed by a different law.
A permanent residence card is valid for five years and is renewable. It grants you nearly all the same rights as a citizen, except for voting in national elections and holding a Portuguese passport. It provides long-term stability and removes the need for constant renewals with AIMA. This is your best anchor against uncertainty.
Option 3: Monitor and prepare
While the legislative process unfolds, use this time to ensure your documentation is flawless. Confirm your fiscal address is correct, your social security contributions are up to date, and you have proof of your continuous legal residency. Follow official updates from the Presidency and Parliament, not social media rumors.
Common traps (and how to avoid them)
- Assuming the 5-year rule is safe for future applications
→ The political momentum is toward a more restrictive law. If you are eligible to apply now, do so. Do not assume the window will stay open. - Confusing permanent residency with citizenship
→ They are two different legal statuses. Securing permanent residency after five years is a critical step that provides stability, even if the path to citizenship is extended to ten years. - Letting your current residence permit expire
→ Despite AIMA delays, you must initiate your renewal process before your card expires. An expired card, even with a pending renewal, can create major problems for travel and accessing services. - Ignoring the new integration requirements
→ If the law passes, a civic knowledge test will be required. Start learning about Portuguese history and government now, alongside your language studies. - Relying on social media instead of official sources
→ Information on Facebook and Reddit is often emotional and inaccurate. Only trust official government portals and verified legal professionals for guidance.
Bottom Line
The proposed change to Portugal’s nationality law is a significant breach of trust for many legal residents. However, panic is not a strategy. The law is not yet final, and your immediate focus should be on securing your legal residency status. Applying for permanent residency after completing five years is the most powerful action you can take to create certainty in an uncertain environment. It provides a stable foundation from which you can navigate whatever changes come to the citizenship law.
FAQ
What is the main proposed change to the Portuguese Nationality Law?
The key change is increasing the minimum legal residency requirement for citizenship by naturalization from five years to ten years for most non-EU nationals, and to seven years for CPLP and EU citizens.
Is the 10-year citizenship rule active now?
No. As of late October 2025, the law has been approved by Parliament but must still be reviewed by the President of the Republic. It is not yet in effect.
What happens to people who already applied for citizenship?
Applications submitted and complete before the new law comes into force should be processed under the existing five-year rule.
Can I still get permanent residency after 5 years?
Yes. The right to apply for permanent residency after five years of legal temporary residency is governed by a separate law and remains unchanged. This is a crucial option for securing your long-term status.
What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship?
Permanent residency gives you the right to live, work, and access services in Portugal indefinitely, with a renewable card. Citizenship grants you a Portuguese passport, the right to vote in national elections, and full EU citizenship rights.
Does my AIMA waiting time count towards residency?
This is a point of conflict. A 2024 law (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2024) stated that residency time counts from the application date. The new proposal seeks to reverse this, counting only from the date the residence card is issued. This issue is a key reason the law may face a constitutional challenge.
What are the new requirements besides the timeline?
The new law proposes a civic knowledge test on Portuguese culture and history, a formal declaration of adherence to democratic principles, and proof of subsistence means.
Will UK citizens need 10 years of residency for citizenship?
Yes. Under the new proposal, post-Brexit UK citizens would fall under the ten-year rule for naturalization.
What happens to the Golden Visa path to citizenship?
The Golden Visa is a residency program. While the residency rules are unchanged, the path to citizenship for Golden Visa holders would be extended to ten years if the new law is enacted.
What is the single most important thing I should do right now?
If you have been a legal resident for five years, apply for permanent residency. If you are not yet at five years, ensure all your documents (NIF, NISS, registered lease) are perfectly in order and monitor official government sources for updates on the law.
